Saturday February 5, 2005

I've Been Thinking:

Yesterday local NY news stations reported that two Delta flights destined for US were "at risk".

Flight 119 from Paris and Flight 81 from Amsterdam were thought to have security problems, yet both landed without incident.

The threats were called in. Neither of the cockpits were at risk of being forcibly entered.

The question is: At what point do you take down a plane or land early or even return to the airport of embarkation.
The answer is: It all depends on the level of risk. Clearly, in both of these cases communication was constant and the risk was defused or resolved through confirmation on the ground. When the risk is greater and intel is sparse and communication is negligible you have to send the plane home or land it early.

And when the risk is even greater, we have to consider downing the plane.